Do Orioles Have Best Rotation in American League?
It's funny how adding an ace can totally transform a starting rotation. Just look at the Baltimore Orioles.
Putting an ace at the top shifts everyone down, making the rotation deeper and more complete. It also gives a team a pitcher who can match up with other teams' aces when required, especially in October.
Before trading for Corbin Burnes last week, the Orioles had a pretty good rotation. It was deep and had quality arms, but no one who really stood out as an All-Star or possible Cy Young candidate.
Well, now Baltimore has a bona fide ace in Burnes -- a man who's already won a Cy Young award. And suddenly, the Orioles' rotation looks like one of the best in baseball.
On Monday, the MLB Tonight crew compared Baltimore's rotation to some of the best in the American League, including two teams in the same division -- the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.
Do the Orioles have enough horses to keep up?
It certainly looks like it.
Burnes, Grayson Rodriguez and Kyle Bradish make for a strong top three. John Means was an All-Star before undergoing Tommy John surgery, and Dean Kremer is rock-solid.
Another plus for the O's is their youth.
Nobody in their projected starting rotation will be older than 30 on Opening Day, so Baltimore shouldn't have to worry about age-related decline from any of their starters.
If Rodriguez builds off his strong second half and Means stays healthy, the Orioles should have plenty of starting pitching to get them through the season and, hopefully, the playoffs.
